Okay, this is kind of "girly" but I thought I'd share this little tip with my Fellow Female Fodorites...

I had read somewhere several years ago that it's cool to choose a perfume/cologne that you've never worn before but that you like a lot and save it to use on your upcoming trip, or wait until you get to your destination and choose one there. Use it daily and then when you return home - on rare occasions, break out that scent and it will take you back to your memorable vacation wherever it might have been. SO! I have tried it on 3 occasions and it really does work for me - fragrances have a power of transporting you if just for a little while.

It is a good idea, I do it. Aliage is for Hawaii only. Cartier is for Mexico. Etc etc etc.

And it works.

It works, and one possible reason why is that olfactory cues (smells) seem to reach a more primitive part of the brain more directly, causing them to elicit extremely strong memories. Remember that Proust wrote an entire book starting with a memory elicited by the smell of a madeleine cake.

Best to choose a perfume that you like but aren't absolutely crazy about, so that you can enjoy it on the trip but won't be tempted to wear it at any other time. And make sure it has a fairly distinctive scent.

It works for both sexes, as men can wear cologne to obtain the same effect.

I limit wearing cologne or perfume to places where I'm sure I won't be in close quarters. What I like may not be so appealing to someone sitting next to me. So, I never wear it when I'm going to be on a plane, train, or in a theater.

I like to buy a scent "there." It not only brings me back when I smell it later, I have to go back to get more.

No, no, no....the Hawaii scent is plumeria from perfumes of Hawaii or any perfumes based on frangi-pangi .....I use the Beyond Paradise to evoke Hawaii....or the new blue BP...

give us some more examples....Paris, Italy...something herbecous and lemony maybe?...how about Hong Kong...is there anything with a 5 spice smell? London gas fumes? I would say Alps would be a more fresh,earthy and sporty

I agree about Hawaii - I have scented lotion with Plumeria fragrance from Kauai.

My Italy fragrance is Banana Republic for women.

My France fragrance is a scent I purchased at Fraganard below Ez...Eau Fantasque.

London gas fumes...that's funny....

It's true diesel fumes remind me of a European city.

Plumeria or fruity scents will give me an instant headache! It has to be Aliage in Hawaii...for no apparant reason except I used to wear it when I first started going to Hawaii.

In my case it has to be my own perfume for a destination, what I wore when I first went there.

London, for me, is LaPerla, I wore it to a slightly musty tea room there on my first trip. Now when I want to smell slightly musty in slightly damp wool and leather but sipping tea with uptight ladies in a warm tea room with a cold wind coming in the door whenever it is opened, it is LaPerla.

abram, thank you!

I like to rub bratwurst and sauerkraut on my body when in Europe so that I get home I'll think of Europe everytime I walk into a deli.

Cute story. Last week, I sprayed my "France" cologne. My daughter walked into by bedroom and said, "Mom, I smell France for some odd reason".

Okay Zeus...now THAT is funny!

This is so true!

Years ago I purchased Artemesia at Penhalligans in London and when I wanted a lovely reminder, I just spritzed a bit on.

Paris: LaPerla Chocolate "something" that I smelled when walking by the shop in St. Germain. The aroma lured me in for some liquid shower soap.

Funny about the London=diesel, but sure is true! Whenever I get behind a bus I'm transported--happily--to a little bakery with outdoor seating that I frequent on Gloucester Road.

Oh dear god, Zeus, I just spit my new expensive ginseng vodka all over my laptop screen!

Maybe I should dab some of it behind my ears whenever I want to think of Fodors.

Diesel fumes also instantly transport me back to Europe!

And in the Old Days (before ATMs) American Express traveler's cheques had a scent that screamed EUROPE! to me, I kid you not!

I've been doing this for years now. I either buy a new perfume or scented hand lotion and wait 'til I get to my destination to start wearing it. Even my husband notices and will comment, "That perfume always makes me think of ...".

great idea but still think it needs to match the place somewhat or at least not clash.... no tropicals for the Alps.. Cartier for Mexico?